Vacuum feeding apparatus



E. A. ROCKWELL. v

VACUUM FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I6. I918.

9% m m 3 m A w f m m E. A. ROCKWELL.

VACUUM FEEDING APPARAEUS. APPLICAT|0N F|LED.IULYI6.1918.

1,415,195 Patented M 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- A TTORNEYL.

' vacuum chamber is arranged to be open to STATE P E OFFICE? EDWARD A.aocxwmm, on NEW HAVEN, connnccrrcv'r, As'smnon TO 1:. A. aocxwnm.COMPANY, me, on NEW You, H. Y., A CORPORATION 0; NEW YORK. H

VACUUM FEEDING APPARATUS.

amas,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. RooKWnLn,

a citizen of the United States, and a resi-' dent of New Haven, in thecounty of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certainnew'and useful Improvements in Vacuum Feeding Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification. v

The invention made is in the simplification, construction, and.operation of vacuum feeding apparatus. This apparatus 1s 'usedparticularly as an automobile accessory. It may as well find uses inother arts where it is deslred to feed liquids from one level to anotherwith the main tank or reservoir at a level below thelevel of the pointof needed supply. This is important where the liquid is dangerous, as inall gasolene storage and supply apparatus.

The inventions object is to eliminate the need for mechanicalcontrivances, such as springs, levers and'like moving parts, as far aspossible. I accomplish the desired result by an arrangement of myapparatus whereby the natural laws of gravity, buoyancy, and atmosphericpressure may be utilized to my end more directly than heretofore thoughtpossible. The operating mechanism is thus simplified to such an extentthat at once it becomes more positive in action, more easilymanufactured, durable and dependable in use.

A further object is to provide but one float-operated valve and in sucha way as to completely render unnecessary all toggles, springs, vacuumshutsofi' valv'es,.etc., as now commonly used and at the same time makemy one valve readily accessible .from the outside, without dismantlingany other part of the device.

I utilize a gravity chamber open to the atmospheric pressure, a vacuumchamber, and a simple valve to automatically permit gravity feed to theformer chamber from the latter chamber when the pressure in each issubstantially equal and to prevent such feed when the pressures areunequal. The

a subnormal pressure chamber by a connection, for example, with theintake manifold of a running engine, and isalso arranged to be sometimesopen to atmospheric pressure whereby the influence of the subnormalpressure is substantially overcome. The

vacuum chamber has a connection for liquid 7 v Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed July 18,

Patented May 9,1922. 1918. Serial no. 245,216.

to feed from the low level main supply tank I under atmospheric pressureto the' vacuum chamber when the latter is open to the subnormalpressure. With these chambers arranged for connections as stated, thegeneral or common purpose of a vacuum feed system will be accomplishedif the pressure in the vacuum chamber is changed alternately fromsubnormal to normal atmospheric. pressure, whereby the liquid may firstfeed to such chamber and then from it to the gravity chamber. The mainrequirement, then, for the purpose is to automatically change thepressure conditionsin the vacuum chamber as and when the feed of fluidis required.

I satisfy this requirement, according to one feature of my invention,byv inserting a float of high buoyancy value for action in the liquid ofthe vacuum chamber. I attach to this float or provide on the floatitself means to lift, by reason of the fioats buoyancy, a pressure inletvalve for the vacuum cham er directly and against atm ospheric pressure,and this is accomplished without intermediate or relatively moving dueto the feed from the main tank. This.

causes a rise of the float and an early engagement of the valve.Thereafter, the float can not immediately rise further, even though theliquid level does. The increased immersion of the float in the liquidincreases the buoyancy until it is suflicient to overcome theatmospheric pressure holding the valve closed. Then the valve is openedand at a time designed for the liquid level in the vacuum chamber to beat its high point. Once such valve is open, the subnormal pressure inthe vacuum chamber becomes normal and theliquid flows to the gravitychamber through the gravity or check valve. The buoyant float, however,holds the pressure inlet valve open even though the liquid level isfalling in the vacuum chamber due to the fact that the float had toacquire a buoyancy due to a rise in liquid level suf- .ficient to openthe valve against pressure. Since the valve is opened, the buoyancy tohold it open is conslderably less than that which was required to openit, so that until -the-liquid level falls sufliciently to perthe gravitychamber. The whole operation .Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview ischaracterized by the ph sical laws employed for the purpose and y aremarkably simple arrangement.

I -Other features of the invention will appear in the detaileddescription of one pre-' ferred form of'its embodiment, but suchdescription is not intended to limit the scope ofmy invention except'asthe prior .art and the claims properly interpreted thereby may require.

In the drawings,-

1 through the apparatus showing the main arran ement and parts indetail; a Fig. 2 is a top plan View;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

" .Fig. 4. is a section on the line L -4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the general arrangement of thevacuum feed apparatus in connection with the main supply tank, acarbureter, and theintake manifo (1 of an explosive engine.

, As shown, a main tank 1 is divided by a horizontal wall 21 into twochambers 2 and 3. I term chamber 3. the gravity chamber because it isatall times open to atmospheric pressure .and the liquid flows by gravityto" and from this chamber 3. The chamber 2 above the horizontal wall 21I term a vacuum chamber because the pressure within this chamber is atthe proper time and under the proper conditions below atmosphericpressure and thus, on the vacuum principle, the liquid is fed underatmospheric pressure to this chamber 2 from the main supply tank 25 at alower level thanthe chamber 2. The top of the chamber 2 is closedbymeans of a casting 16 fastened to the walls of the tank 1 in any asuitable manner.

munication with the atmosphere at all times.

These openings are in somecasesscreened, as by screen 23, and, in.general, such open ings and their primary purpose are well understood byone skilled in the art. I

The gravity chamber 3 has an opening at the bottom normally closed byscrewthreaded plug 12, whereby the tank may be drained and cleaned asdesired. Also, at the bottom of this tank there is the normally openconnection with the pipe 13 which, as shown in Fig. 5, leads to thecarbureter 26 to feed the latterby gravity. A pipe connection 6 servesas a communication between chambers 2 and 3 and is mounted in the wall21 to provide'means' for convemently applying a valve 5 to suchcommunication and, also conveniently hold a spider-guide 7 within whichthe operating rod 8 mounted on to move with the is guided.

The valve 5 is an ordinary flap valve which may be mounted generally asshown and may open to permit liquid to flow from chamber 2 through pipe6 to chamber 3 when the pressures within the two chambers aresubstantially equal.v The specific form of this valve 5 is notimportant, except that it should open by gravity and be mounted as shownand indicated to close when the pressure in chamber 3 is greater thanthe pressure in chamber 2.

The valve 22 is-adapted to close the pasusage leading to the opening 24leading directly to the outer air and may be con veniently mechanicallydepressed and held lightly against its seat by means of a light'springl3O arranged between the valve and a screen 23 screw-threaded onthe boss as indicated. Within the passage leading to the opening 24 therod 8 is cut down at its ends to a triangular shape, as. shown in Fig.3, whereby the pressure within the tank 2 will be on one side of thevalve 22 while) the atmospheric pressure will be on the other or outerside.

Within the chamber 2 and arranged on and concentrically with the rod 8there is a float 10 which I preferably make of cork properly treated, asby shellac, to withstand the action of-gasolene or other liquid whichmay pass through the apparatus. The upper end of this-float is large, asindicated, while depending from the enlarged end is a cylindricalportion 9. By this arrangement, I provide a float of very considerablebuoyancy and one which will at practically all times have a considerablepart of its volume within the liquid at whatever level the latter maybe. The rod 8 moves up and down with the float 10, properly guided instraight-line movement by the spider 7 and the fact that the end of therod 8 is guided in the opening 30' below valve pressure within thechamber 2 by reason of normally through pipe 13 5 to be closed tightlythe connection 20. The liquid in the tank '25, however, is underatmospheric pressure and this condition causes the gasolene to feedthrough pipe 17 and opening 14 to chamber 2. I

As the chamber 2 fills, the float 1O rises and moves the rod 8 againstthe valve 22.

At the same time, pressure in the gravity chamber 3 is, by reason ofthe. connection 11 and opening 19, at atmospheric pressure and thereforegreater than the pressure in the chamber 2. This condition causes thevalve against its seat and prevents liquid from' assing through pipeconnection 6 and open1ng-4 to the chamber 3. Whatever gasolene there isalready in chamber 3, however, may, of course, feed to the carbureter 26to keep the engine running. The float 10, "when it has been moved by theliquid entering chamber 2 so that the 'rod 8 presses agalnst the valve22, stops because some little force beyond that given by the buoyancy ofthe float at this level ofthe liqu1d is required to open the valve 22.This is so because the pressure on one side of the valve is less thanatmosphericv pressure while the pressure on the other side of the valveis equal to atmospheric pressure. The liquid continues now to enter thechamber 2 and increase the buoyancy of the float 10 by reason of thefact that an increased portion of the buoyant float is submerged in theliquid. In this manner the force due to the buoyancy of the floatgradually becomes sufficient to open the valve 22 against the pressurestated, and as soon as the valve 22 is open. then the pressure withinthe chamber 2 becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure,

or substantially so, because the suction from the manifold 27 throughpipe 20 cannot take away the air as fast as it enters.

As soon as the chamber 2 is open to atmosphere, then the pressure of theliquid acting through the o ening 4 is suflicient to open valve 5 andthe i uid starts to feed by gravity to chamber 3. he valve 22 will notclose as the liquid level begins chamber 2, for the reason that it willbe remembered that the float 10 came to stop against the valve 22 beforethe liquid level stopped rising in chamber 2 in the first part of thecycle. Thus, it is necessary for the liquid level in chamber 2 to fallto a substantial degree buoyancy necessary to keep the valve 22 open,inasmuch as such buoyancy now does not have to act against anycounteracting pressure except that of gravity and the light spring 23,which may not be considered as substantial in this connection. Theliquid 'level continues to fall in chamber2 and the to fall in beforethe float 10 loses the liquid to pass into chamber 3 untilthe valve 22is closed and the suction from the manifold 27 causes a decrease in thepressure within chamber 2 suflicient to cause the atmospheric ressure inchamber 3 to close the valve 5. hen the latter closes, the operationsare repeated.

It is important to note, as will be emphasized in the embodiment anddescription of the invention shown, that there is a substantial delayedaction in the opening and closing of valve 22 and that this delayedaction is characterized by pressures and float-buoyancy conditions to afar greater degree than by the mechanics of moving parts. Thus, thedesired result is accomlished in an extremely simple manner.

he only moving parts in the apparatus are the valve 22 .of the simplestform, the float 10 and its attached rod 8 moving therewith but not withrelation thereto, and the valve 5. Such movements as occur aresubstantially straight-line movements. The only care required inmanufacture and maintenance beyond ordinary pipe fitting is to 1 generaldescription of the invention that the valve 22 may-be opened and keptopen for the desired time by designing the area of the valve on whichthe atmospheric pressure bears compared to the area of the valve exposedto the pressure within the chamber 2. Also, thetime may be controlled bythe design of the float 10 and the degree of its buoyancy.

The features of the invention may be utilized in other ways than thatshown in the preferred embodiment of it, but it is not thought necessaryto show such variations as might properly come within the scope of theinvention as now claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vacuum feed apparatus having in combination, a tank or chamberdesigned to receive liquid under subnormal pressure and discharge itunder normal pressure and pressure-controlling means for said chamber toalternately permit and then prevent subnormal pressure thereincomprising a valve located in an opening from the chamber to normalpressure, a float of high buoyancy ,value in the liquid of the chamber,and

a buoyancy value to open the valve against atmospheric pressure beforesaid valvecan open and fall to a level suflicient to immerse the floatfor a less' buoyant value to fall wth the liquid before said valve canclose.

2. A Vacuum feed apparatus, comprising in combination a vacuum tank andmeans including a valve to intermittently change the res sure therein attimed intervals according to the liquid level in the tank, such meansincluding a regulating float of high buoyancy value arranged to directlyoperate said valve, and a device to cause the float H to act as aregulator by a comparatively wide range of increase and decrease in thebuoyancy value of the float under the rise and fall of liquid withrespect to the float.

3. A vacuum feed apparatus comprising, a vacuum tank orchamber, aregulating float therein and a pressure-controlled valve I member havingdirect engagement with and causing the float-to act by a comparativelywide range of increase and decrease in buoyancy value as the liquidrises and falls in the chamber with respect to the float;

4. A vacuum feed apparatus comprising,

a vacuum tank or chamber, a lift valve In an opening to the atmospherefrom the chamber arranged to have a substantial area for atmosphericpressure to hold it closed, av

float within the chamber designed to have its buoyancy force directlybalance such atmospheric pressure at the time when the Valve shouldopen, said float being formed and arranged to exert pressureon andmaintain immovable relation with said valve through the entirechamber-filling operation.

5. For the purpose described, a tank and a substantially T-shaped floattherein to insure a substantial body immersion under the conditionsdescribed, the cross-sectional area of the head portion and of the stemportion of the float being unchanged throughout their respectivelengths. a

6. A vacuum feed apparatus, comprising a vacuum tank or chamber havingan opening to the atmosphere and a valve for said opening entirelyaccessible from outside the chamber, an opening from the chamber to aregion of subnormal pressure, said firstnamed opening being sulficient,in size to render the influence of the second 0 emng' negligible whenthe valve of the or-mer opens, and a float within the chamber-relativelyimmovable with relation to said-valve and arranged to transmit itsfunctional movement directly" to the said valveto open the same.

.7. A vacuum feed apparatus comprising a vacuum tank or chamberconnected .by a passage to'a region of subatmospheric pressure andhaving an openingto theatmos- 'phere of greater cross-sectional areathanthat of said passage, a valve controlling the vi opening, a float ofT-shaped vertical section 1n the tank, means connected toQthe float foroperating the valve, and a fuel intake and exit ort in the tank.

8. vacuum feed apparatus comprising a vacuumtank orchamber connected bya. passage to a region of subatmospheric pressure and having an openingto the atmosphere of 'reater cross-sectional area than that of sa1section in the tank, a vertical rod on the float for liftingthe valve,and a fuel intake and exit port in the tank,

9. A vacuum feed apparatus comprising a vacuum tank or chamber connectedby a passage to a region of s'ubatmospheric pressure and having anopening to the atmosphere of greater cross-sectional area than-that ofpassage, a lift valve controlling the.- opening, a single float ofT-shaped vertical

